Having the Best Stock Brokers for short selling to choose from will help traders achieve their goals more effectively. Traders Union analysts have prepared an article to help you choose the best option. The experts selected 5 companies, compared them between each other and gave scores. Using the results of the analysis, traders can find the information they need about the Best Stock Brokers for short selling in 2026.
What is Short Selling?
Short Selling is when a trader borrows an asset to sell it and buy back later at a lower price. These kinds of positions can be opened in the stock, Forex, futures and other markets.
Under the rules of financial markets, traders cannot trade assets or contracts they don’t own. Short Selling involves a trader borrowing an asset from a broker and selling it at a high price. Then, they wait for the price to fall. Closing the position, a trader buys back the asset at a low price. The difference between the high price of sale and low price of buying is the profit a trader makes. If the price of an asset increases instead of falling, a trader suffers a loss.
Short selling occurs when the price of an asset is expected to fall. However, in the case of stocks, not all brokers allow short selling. Therefore, if your trading strategy includes short selling, it is important that you choose a broker that provides such an option.
1
CapTrader - Best Stock Broker in 2026
CapTrader offers its clients access to trading over 70,000 assets and trading instruments, including currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, commodities, futures, options and CFDs. Marginal trading is available and the leverage ranges from 1:5 to 1:20. The broker’s clients can test the platform and the trading conditions of CapTrader using a free demo account.
2
eOption - Best Stock Broker in 2026
As an eOption client, you can trade options, stocks, listed bonds, fixed income assets, and ETFs. At the same time, the broker is focused on traders who use option strategies. The commission for derivative financial instruments trading is 10 cents per contract and that is lower than its competitors, plus $1.99 per trade. There is no minimum value for US residents to open a cash account. A deposit for international accounts is required from $25,000, and $2,000 for margin accounts. The new account shall be replenished within 60 days from the date of opening, otherwise, the broker may close it.
3
DEGIRO - Best Stock Broker in 2026
DEGIRO is a convenient broker for Europeans. There is no minimum deposit amount, that is why demo accounts have been canceled because even small amounts can be invested. Also, the company doesn’t charge commissions for the lack of activity on the account and its maintenance. An investment account can be opened within 1 day. DEGIRO offers convenient replenishment and withdrawal. The base currency is always the currency of the client's country of residence. Read more about that How to buy/sell on DEGIRO.
4
SoFi Invest - Best Stock Broker in 2026
SoFi Invest offers a convenient application for trading and investing in stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and IPOs. No commission is charged for trades in stocks and ETFs. Also, with zero commissions, the investor can purchase fractional shares of Stock Bits. SoFi Invest does not have a minimum deposit, however, Pattern Day Traders should have at least $25,000 on their account. Otherwise, the account may be limited under FINRA’s daily trading margin requirements. Pattern Day Trader consists of traders who trade securities four or more times within five business days, and the number of daily transactions is more than 6% of the total trading activity for the same period. The minimum order size for the purchase of cryptocurrency is $10, and the maximum is $50,000 per client per day.
5
Wealthsimple - Best Stock Broker in 2026
Wealthsimple offers asset portfolio management services to investors. All transactions and payment operations can be tracked in the personal account on the website and in the mobile app. Clients can invest only their capital. Borrowed funds (margin trading) are not provided by the broker. Three account types are available: basic accounts that allow you to start with any amount; premium accounts starting from £100,000 (black account) or £500,000 (generation account).
Best Stock Broker for short selling: Investment Programs
Earning passive income is just as important for traders as earning profit by actively trading. Therefore, it is important to consider investment instruments offered by the company. There are different investment programs and their choice strongly depends on a specific broker. TU analysts have prepared a review of investment programs of the 5 best brokers.
1
CapTrader - Investment Programs
Investment Programs, Available Markets and Products of the Broker
CapTrader offers solutions not only to traders, but only to investors. Specifically, the company’s clients can use managed accounts (MAM). The company offers MAM accounts to investors with different risk levels, minimum investment amount, types of used assets and trading instruments, etc. The clients of the company are also awarded additional bonuses through referring new traders.
MAM accounts – passive income solutions
CapTrader offers its clients investment accounts managed by the company’s specialists. They are available to all broker’s clients, who deposit the required minimum amount. There are two types of MAM accounts on the platform:
-
Rating A. The minimum investment amount for opening this type of trading account is EUR 10,000. The expected return on this account type is 10-20% per annum. The key instruments to earn the return are options, benchmark – EuroStoxx 50. This type of MAM account has been available since 2011.
-
WHITE². The minimum investment amount for this type of trading account is EUR 20,000. The expected return is 10-20% per annum. The key instruments to earn the return are options, stocks, ETFs. Benchmark – S&P 500. This type of MAM account has been active since 2017.
The clients get direct access to positions and trades via the trading platform. The commission on MAM accounts ranges from 10% to 20% of the return depending on the risk level chosen by you.
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all the intricacies of thedeal and all the steps from signing up to withdrawal of profits.
CapTrader’s partnership program
-
CapTrader partnership program envisages financial bonuses for referring new clients to the platform. In order to participate in the program, a trader needs to fill out and submit a corresponding application.
According to the conditions of the program, a client is considered referred once he/she registers and funds the account. If the referral deposited EUR 2,000 to the account, the user who referred him/her will be credited EUR 74. For deposit amounts from EUR 2,000 to EUR 25,000, the premium is EUR 150. If the initial deposit exceeds EUR 25,000, the user who referred the new client will be awarded EUR 250.
2
eOption - Investment Programs
Investment Programs, Available Markets, and Products of the Broker
The eOption broker is focused on trading options for active traders. The broker offers them the lowest commissions. At the same time, the broker maintains the automatic trading function, which enables the investor to make a profit without making trades on his own.
Auto Trading is an investment solution for generating passive income
Clients who subscribe to Auto Trading services choose one or more among 36 suggested trading signal providers. After that, eOption starts auto-trading to sell or buy securities following the parameters set by the investor. Here are some of the features offered by eOption’s Auto Trading program:
-
The broker or other party cannot start, stop or change the auto-trading status. If the subscription period for signals has not expired and there are funds on the account, then the decision to suspend trading shall be made by the investor himself.
-
All funds are under your total control. Subscribers can set the maximum trade size based on the USD amount, the number of contracts, the account balance percentage, and can start or stop the service at any time.
-
The broker doesn’t charge any auto-trading commissions. However, orders made by the Auto Trade Desk without the investor’s intervention shall be subject to a rate of $2.00 for stocks and $3.99 + 10 cents per contract for options.
-
After you open a brokerage account and pass verification, you can connect to the Auto Trading service online.
The eOption broker doesn’t verify, monitor, or evaluate the trading signals supplied, but acts as an executing broker following the specific Auto Trading Service instructions. The investor himself chooses the auto trading concept that is most compatible with his investment strategy.
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all the intricacies of thedeal and all the steps from signing up to withdrawal of profits.
Affiliate program from eOption:
-
Affiliate program. Here, an affiliate will get up to $100 for each attracted client who has replenished a trading account for $2,000 or more. Also, if the partner's account balance is over $2,000, the client and the referral receive two free BUZZ shares.
Participation in the affiliate program enables eOption clients to get monetary rewards from the company for attracting new users.
3
DEGIRO - Investment Programs
Investment Programs, Available Markets, and Products of the Broker
DEGIRO is an investment company that offers solutions for generating income from operations in the stock market. The broker provides its clients with access to 50 exchanges from Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania.
DEGIRO’s affiliate program:
-
"Online Partner" is a program for website owners, bloggers, and publishers, which offers remuneration for information about DEGIRO promotion.
In addition to commissions, the partner gets a full package of marketing products: individual content, different types of advertising materials, and the personal account manager assistance.
4
SoFi Invest - Investment Programs
Investment Programs, Available Markets, and Products of the Broker
SoFi Invest offers asset management services called “Automated Investing”. Investors are connected to the service for free, but they pay basic commissions and expenses for ETF funds.
Automated Investing via robo-consultants without human intervention
A client who wants to invest in stock market instruments informs SoFi Invest of his investment goals and based on that the broker constructs a diversified portfolio. It consists of a wide range of risk mitigation assets. The investor does not need to monitor the market: Automated Investing uses computer algorithms to provide financial advice and manage portfolios.
The main principles of automated investing from SoFi Invest are:
-
The broker does not charge any fees for consulting services or asset portfolio management.
-
Portfolios are automatically rebalanced quarterly and during market fluctuations. The adjustment of securities is performed by a robotic program.
-
There is no minimum amount to start investing. You can invest from 1 USD.
Connecting to the automated investment platform makes it possible to invest money without transferring it to active management. Moreover, such a decision is a way to avoid the occurrence of possible human errors when making an investment decision.
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all the intricacies of thedeal and all the steps from signing up to withdrawal of profits.
SoFi Invest affiliate program
-
Referral program — a partner can receive up to $10,000 per year. The amount of remuneration depends on the recommended service and the number of connected referrals.
A partner can generate referral links with recommendations for personal and student loans, investment products, obtaining a credit card, and opening cash accounts. This offer is not available to customers in Ohio, Michigan, or Vermont.
5
Wealthsimple - Investment Programs
Investment Programs, Available Markets, and Products of the Broker
Wealthsimple offers passive investment through investments in managed portfolios. They are formed based on the data specified by the investor, such as objectives, time horizon, and the customer’s attitude toward risk.
Investing on autopilot: A picture-perfect way to get passive income on the stock market
Wealthsimple offers its clients well-balanced portfolios with different risk levels. Each of them is diversified and contains from 10 to 15 funds in a certain segment. If the market situation changes, portfolios are rebalanced automatically. The investor does not participate in this process. Wealthsimple offers the following portfolio types:
-
Socially (SRI) and non-socially responsible investing portfolios. The fees charged by ETF managers of SRI portfolios range from 0.22% to 0.32%. The minimum investment in SRI funds is £5,000. Management fees for non-socially responsible investing ETFs are 0.18-0.2%, and the investor may invest any amount.
-
Conservative, Balanced, Growth. These are classifications of portfolios based on degrees of risk. The investor himself determines the permissible level. Each investor can have several portfolios with different risk profiles.
To invest in Wealthsimple managed portfolios, you need to answer several questions in the registration form. Based on this data, the algorithm will propose the optimal portfolio for you. The investor may agree to invest in it, apply for another portfolio or contact the company's specialist to create a personalized portfolio.
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all the intricacies of thedeal and all the steps from signing up to withdrawal of profits.
Wealthsimple’s affiliate program:
-
Referral Program. For each friend who opens and deposits £5,000 or more through a referral link, the existing client receives free asset management of £5,000. The referral receives the same remuneration.
Thus, the broker does not charge any fees for its services to the participants of the referral program for 12 months.
Summary
Choosing a good broker for short selling is not a simple task. To make it easier, TU experts have prepared this review. Based on the collected information, we have given scores to each company. In the Overall score table, you will learn about the best Stock Broker for short selling in 2026, and also advantages and disadvantages of its closest competitors.
Overall score of the best Stock Brokers for short selling
| CapTrader | eOption | DEGIRO | SoFi Invest | Wealthsimple | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall score |
9.2 |
9.3 |
9.53 |
8.8 |
9 |
|
Execution of orders |
8.9 |
9 |
9.03 |
8.5 |
8.7 |
|
Investment instruments |
9.5 |
9.6 |
9.9 |
9.1 |
9.3 |
|
Withdrawal speed |
9.3 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
8.9 |
9.1 |
|
Customer Support work |
9.1 |
9.2 |
9.5 |
8.7 |
8.9 |
|
Variety of instruments |
8.8 |
8.9 |
9.02 |
8.4 |
8.6 |
|
Trading platform |
9.6 |
9.7 |
10 |
9.2 |
9.4 |
|
|
|||||
|
|
|
FAQ
What additional fees are there on short selling?
Traders pay the fee twice in short selling, when they open a position and when they close the position. There can also be a fee for position rollover (swap fee), if the position wasn’t closed by 12:00 am local time.
For how long can a trader hold a position open in short selling?
The time during which a trade can hold a position open depends on the broker. Some brokers impose restrictions, while others allow trading for as long as traders comply with margin requirements.
Is it possible to work with offshore brokers?
It is best not to work with offshore brokers. However, if you have chosen such a company, you need to check and analyze it very thoroughly. There are offshore brokers with good reputations. Before you start working with such a company, deposit the minimum amount and start trading. Once you’ve worked with the broker for a little while and checked how it operates and how quickly it processes withdrawals, you can start depositing higher amounts.
Why is a license important for a broker?
License is the key document testifying to the broker’s reliability. It means that the company complies with the requirements of the financial regulatory authority that issued it. It is recommended that you choose brokers with licenses from top financial regulators: the USA, European Union, the UK, as these jurisdictions have the strictest licensing requirements.
How much money do I need in order to start working in the financial markets?
The initial capital depends on the assets you plan to trade. However, in the majority of cases, $300-500 is a good amount for a start.
Does the choice of a beginner differ from the choice of an experienced trader?
Yes. A novice trader should primarily consider the availability of educational tools and a demo account, as well as basic assets. A more experienced trader is interested in wider opportunities on advanced account types, a wider choice of instruments for technical analysis, and a greater number of trading instruments.
Best Stock Broker for short selling by Countries
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.
